Advocacy

Ongoing SCCACS Advocacy Efforts

The Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons is coordinating activities and proactively identifying and supporting issues that impact practicing surgeons and patients at the state and national levels.  This is in collaboration with all three CA chapters formally termed the Joint Advocacy Committee of the ACS California Chapters (JAC-ACSCC). 

AB 977: Emergency departments- assault and battery

AB 71: Pupil Instruction-bleeding control

SB 868: Pupil safety- trauma kits

Electric bike legislation:

AB 530: vehicles-electric bicycles (will prohibit a person under 12 from operating an electric bicycle of any class. Would create e-bike training program and licensing (online written test and state-issued photo)

AB 1774: vehicles-electric bicycles (which prohibits modification of an electric bike to change the speed capability)

AB 1778: vehicles-electric bicycles (will prohibit anyone under age 16 from riding a Category 2 or 3 e-bike.  Would require helmets for all class 2 or 3 electric bicycles)

Prior Authorization CMADocs > Stop Health Care Delays

Medicare Physician Payment Cuts Cuts overshadow new services in 2024 Medicare payment schedule | American Medical Association (ama-assn.org)

California Medical Association Priority Issues:

AB 470-Continuing medical education: physicians and surgeons

AB 571- Medical malpractice insurance

SB 487-Abortion: provider protections

SCCACS Advocacy Committee

Chair – Sigrid Burruss, MD, FACS
Loma Linda University

Thomas Duncan, DO, FACS
Ventura County Medical Center

Sammy Eghbalieh, MD, FACS
Southern CA Multispecialty Center

Lorrain Kelley-Quon, MD, FACS
CHLA/USC

Hari Keshava, MD
UCI

John Lam, MD, FACS
Southern CA Permanente Medical Group


Learn more about other advocacy efforts from 2023 in the Advocacy Archive.


Upcoming Events

Annual California Medical Association and California Chapters of the American College of Surgeons Legislative Advocacy Day

April 10, 2024 Sacramento

Physicians to gather at the Capitol tomorrow for CMA’s 49th Annual Legislative Advocacy Day (cmadocs.org)

Leadership and Advocacy Summitt American College of Surgeons

April 13-16, 2024 Washington, DC

Leadership and Advocacy Summit | ACS (facs.org)


SCCACS Advocacy Representation in Action

Dr. John Maa, Dr. Jay Doucet, Dr. Sigrid Burruss, Dr. Thomas Duncan (left to right) at the 2023 ACS Advocacy Day in Sacramento.  Providing ongoing education and training for Stop the Bleed to physicians.

Rebecca King, Catherine Hendricks, Dr. Thomas Duncan, Dr. John Maa, Dr. Jay Doucet (left to right) doing a hands-on Stop the Bleed training for the ACS Staff. 2023 ACS Advocacy Day in Sacramento.

California Surgeons at the 2023 ACS Leadership and Advocacy Summit

CA surgeons meeting with Representative Correa at the 2023 ACS Advocacy Summit.

At the 2023 ACS Advocacy Summit surgeons met with representatives and addressed multiple issues including Medicare Reimbursement, addressing the physician workforce by addressing student loan debt, ensuring access to general surgery, and supporting the American College of Surgeons Priorities including: cancer prevention research, firearm injury prevention research and Mission Zero.


For additional information:

Regarding national and state ACS effort: Advocacy | ACS (facs.org)

Information regarding California Medical Association advocacy effort: cmadocs > Take Action > Grassroots Action Center

State Legislative Action Center


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